Glue applying assembly for multiple web-fed paper handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A non-pressurized, gravity-fed, pneumatically controlled glue applicator assembly is operable to apply at least one uniform stripe of glue to a moving web of material during use thereof. The assembly includes a hollow cylindrical applicator head with a glue applying orifice therein connected to an overhead glue supply by means permitting substantially unrestricted, gravityinduced glue flow to the head. Pneumatically shiftable, apertured sleeve means is carried on the head externally thereof for precisely controlling glue flow and preventing hardening of the glue when the assembly is not in use. During glue application, a continuously moving web is positioned in lightly touching relationship to the head such that glue is continuously wiped or pulled from the orifice thereof; in this fashion, glue flow is automatically adjusted when web speed is varied to thereby insure uniform application during all modes of operation.

United States Patent [1 1 Glaser [111' 3,871,280 [451 Mar. 18, 1975 GLUE APPLYING ASSEMBLY FOR MULTIPLE WEB-FED PAPER HANDLING APPARATUS [75] lnventor: Donald A. Glaser, Emporia, Kans.

[73] Assignee: Didde-Glaser, Inc., Emporia, Kans.

[22] Filed: Sept. 7, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 395,136

[52] US. Cl. 118/412 [51] Int. Cl. B05c 5/02 [58] Field of Search, 118/410-412, 1 18/401, 407

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,251,264 8/1941 Berch et a1. 118/410 2.765.769 10/1950 'Schroeder 118/411- 2,833,242 5/1958 Neidich et al. 118/411 3,277,868 10/1966 Lockwood et a1. 118/410 3,298,353 l/l967 Huffman 118/411 3,476,631 ll/1969 Huffman 118/411 Primary E.ranliner Ronald Feldbaum Attorney, Agent, or FirmSchm idt, Johnson; Hovey & Williams [57] ABSTRACT A non-pressurized, gravity-fed, pneumatically controlled glue applicator assembly is operable to apply at least one uniform stripe of glue to a moving web of material during use thereof. The assembly includes a hollow cylindrical applicator head with a glue applying orifice therein connected to an overhead glue supply by means permitting substantially unrestricted, gravity-induced glue flow to the head. Pneumatically shiftable, apertured sleeve means is carried on the head externally thereof for precisely controlling glue flow and preventing hardening of the glue when the assembly is not in use. During glue application, a continuously moving web is positioned'in lightly touching relationship to the head such that glueis continuously wiped or pulled from the orifice thereof; in this fashion, glue flow is automatically adjusted when web speed is varied to thereby insure uniform application during all modes of operation.

5 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures GLUE APPLYING ASSEMBLY FOR MULTIPLE WEB-FED PAPER HANDLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND This invention relates to a glue applying assembly which is especially adapted for use with multiple webfed paper handling devices such as collators or the like in order to attach moving, super-imposed paper webs in a continuous fashion. However, the structure has utility in connection with various types of machines where there is a need to apply a relatively narrow, continuous line of glue to a moving strip or sheet of material. More particularly, the invention is concerned with a precisely controllable, non-pressurized assembly wherein gravity actuated glue feed is employed yet the assembly is capable of automatically compensating for varying web speeds to maintain uniform glue application' during all operational modes.

Glue applicator assemblies for use with web collators have heretofore generally been of the pressurized variety wherein glue under mechanical pressure is forced through a nozzle or orifice onto a moving web of paper or other material. These devicesutilized pressurizing means such as positive displacement pumps with an attempt being made to correlate the pump speed with the rate of web travel to providecornpensation for changing web speeds. Additionally, these units were normally provided with glue feeder lines of relatively small diameter extending from a central supply to insure that adequate fluid pressure was maintained at all times throughout the system.

In practice it was found that these prior glue applicator assemblies involved important constructional and operational deficiencies primarily attributable to the inherent limitations impose on the system by internal pressurization of glue applying head. First of all, for reasonsof the economy of construction and ease of maintenance, these units were generally provided with a plurality of pressurization pumps which were incorporated into a single area in the overall collator, which resulted in relatively long feeder lines leading to the gluing stations thereof.

Hence, by virtue of this construction, the overall glue applicator assembly incorporatedinto the collator was costly, unduly complex and prone to failure.

Another related problem stemmed from the fact that there was no way to effectively control glue flow with a desirable degree of precision. Specifically, when such pressurized units were shutdown, back pressure created by the long, relatively small diameter feeder lines and glue application nozzles tended to cause bleeding at the end of the lines adjacent the paper webs. As can be appreciated, such an undesirable feature caused dripping or other leakage of glue onto proximal machinery or flooring, thus creating a considerable problem requiring frequent clean-up and maintenance.

Still further problems occurred when it was attempted to commence gluing operation with these prior units, or when adjustment of glue flow therefrom was found necessary in order to compensate for varying web speeds. In particular, an undesirable lag in glue flow often occurred upon start-up, because it was necessary for adequate pressure to build up within the system before glue began to uniformly flow from the orifices -or nozzles thereof. Similarly, precise adjustment of glue flow during operation was'extremely difficult to achieve because of the necessity of changing the pres- 2. sure throughout the glue applying system before modification of glue flow resulted.

Therefore, there has been a need in the art for a lowcost, non-pressurized glue applicator assembly for use SUMMARY Accordingly, it has been discovered that a glue applying assembly of the type described can be produced wherein gravity induced glue flow may be precisely controlled and adjusted by provision'of simple, externally mounted, shiftable gate means. The assembly includes a gravity glue supply in conjunction with an interconnected hollow cylindrical applicator head adapted to be positioned in lightly touching relationship to a moving web of paper or the like with the head being provided with at least one glue applying orifice therein of relatively small diameter. In addition, shiftable, apertured sleeve means carried externally of the applicator head is operable to selectively control fluid flow from the orifices.

In preferred embodiments, a supply of glue is positioned above the applicator head and flexible tubing of relatively large diameter is employed to communicate the latter with the glue supply. The provision of large diameter tubing permits substantially unrestricted gravity induced flow of glue from the supply to the applicator head, thereby insuring that the only significant restriction on fluid pressure occurs at the relatively small glue applying orifices of the head. This facilitates the glue wiping or pulling action of theweb during movement thereof, which is an important feature of the present invention. The flow control means preferably comprises a relatively thin, metallic, axially shiftable sleeve in covering disposition to the applicator head and provided with apertures which are positioned to register with the glue applying orifices of the head when the sleeve is shifted to its operative position. The sleeve is normally located in a flow-preventing position which causes a misalignment of the apertures thereof relative to the glue applying orifices of the head. Disposition of the sleeve in the glue blocking location thereof thus precludes glue flow from the head while simultaneously closing off the orifices thereof to prevent air-hardening of the glue. As can be appreciated, the latter function is important in order that the orifices do not have to be repeatedly cleaned after each shut-down of the applicator assembly, as could be required if the glue within the head orifices were exposed to air.

In glue application procedures, a continuous moving web of paper is preferably in lightly touching relationship to the applicator head such that glue is wiped or pulled from the orifices thereof in a continuous manner, which can be though of as analagous to the wellknown attraction phenomenon of capillary action. In this regard, the head is preferably positioned so that the orifices thereof are slightly ahead of the point of tangency of the web in the direction of movement thereof in order to allow glue to flow from the orifice. It will be understood that as the distance between the paper and glue applying orifices is increased, the greater the amount of glue continually applied to the web.

It is also important to note that the wiping or pulling action of the moving web operates to automatically adjust glue flow from the applicator assembly to compensate for varying web speeds. That is, as the web increases in velocity, the described wiping action automatically causes glue flow at exactly the right rate with no lag time being involved for variation of glue flow. Consequently, the device of this invention is capable of running unattended for long periods of time without special adjustments due to changing web speeds. In particular, the only requirement is that a sufficient amount of glue from the overhead supply be available to the applicator head so that the continual wiping action of the web can proceed unabated.

In the preferred forms, the axially shiftable, apertured metallic control sleeve is pneumatically actuated in response to operation of the overall web-fed paper handling apparatus. In this fashion, a completely auto- THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary, front elevational view of a gluing station in web-fed paper handling apparatus embodying a glue applying assembly in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view of the applicator head and associated glue flow control assembly, showing the cylindrical flow control sleeve disposed about the applicator head in flow preventing disposition;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view in 'partial vertical section of the applicator head as shown in FIGS with glue supply line means being illustrated in communication with the control assembly;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view in partial vertical section of the applicator head shown in FIG. 4 with the flow control sleeve being illustrated in the shifted position thereof permitting flow of glue from the glue applying orifices of the applicator head;

FIG. 6 is an end elevational view of the applicator and associated flow control assembly shown in FIGS. 3-5;

FIG. 7 is an end elevational view ofa moving web of paper with a glue applicator head of the present invention in tangential, glue applying relationship thereto, with a leaf spring component being provided to maintain the desired relative relationship of the web and applicator head;

FIG. 8 is an end elevational view of a glue applicator head in association with a moving web, a roller being illustrated in this instance to maintain the web in tangential relationship to the applicator;

FIG. 9 is an end elevational view of a moving web and glue applicator head in accordance with the invention, with the web being shown as partially wrapped about the head in order to facilitate glue application thereto; and

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary, greatly enlarged view in vertical section of a movable web in conjunction with a glue applicator head, shown with the glue applying orifices of the latter in proper relation to facilitate glue discharge therefrom by the wiping or pulling action of the 'moving web.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a glue applying station of a multiple web-fed paper collator wherein the overall unit is referred to by the numeral 10. It is to be understood that unit 10 generally consists of a plurality of paper handling and conveying stations which are generally in spaced parallel relationship to facilitate continuous, high-speed handling of elongated webs of paper. However, for illustrative purposes, only the glue application segment thereof is shown which includes drive and idler roller 12 and 14 respectively mounted in cantilever fashion on upright wall 16. Roller 12 serves to move elongated web 18 through the gluing station depicted in FIG. 1 and may be driven at a variable speed-to change the forward speed thereof.

Briefly, the glue applicator assembly of the present invention includes an inverted container 20 for receiving a supply of fluid glue. Container 20 is positioned above web 18 and the remainder of the gluing apparatus for gravitational delivery thereof to the gluing stations. In practice, supply 20 preferably comprises a removable bottle of commercially available glue which is adapted to be positioned upside-down on lateral support 22 with the latter being fixedly secured to upstanding wall 16.

A rotatable glue applicator head assembly 24 supported by a hollow tube 30 extending through an aperture in sidewall 16 is held in fixed position relative to wall 16 by locking collar 26 around the support tube on elongated, metallic, tubular support and glue delivery pipe 30 which communicates with hollow, cylindrical glue applying head 32 and extends through apertured sidewall 16 as described. A stretch of flexible tubing 28 is telescoped into pipe 30 at the rearward end thereof and a leakproof seal is provided by compressible O-ring 34 within the outer end of tube 30. Tubing 28 is in turn connected to overhead supply 20 to permit gravity induced glue flow therefrom.

' An integral, enlarged, stepped boss portion 36 is provided at the forward end of pipe 30 and includes an annular seating flange or lip 38 for the purpose of engaging the rearmost edges of the cylindrical sidewall of removable head 32. Additionally, the forward face of boss 36 has a series of four circularly arranged, tapped apertures for the reception of threaded bolts 40. These bolts extend through the planar front wall of head 32 and hollow chamber 42 to releasably secure the head to boss portion 36.

A second enlarged annular portion 44 of boss 36 extends rearwardly from flange 38 with the rearmost wall 45 of portion 44 serving to define in part an annular space or groove 46. An enlarged structurally distinct collar 48 is fixedly secured about pipe 30 rearwardly of second annular portion 44 in spaced relationship therefrom. Collar 48 is held in fixed position on pipe 30 by means of a circular metallic clip 50 thereon engaging the outer face ofthe collar and is provided with an annular groove in the inner surface of the same for receiving an O-ring seal 51 abutting the rearmost upstanding face of stepped boss 36.

As can be seen, collar 48 and second annular portion 44 cooperatively serve to define an annular recessed space or groove 46. The latter is bounded internally by a smooth, metallic bearing surface 52 which also forms a part of the axial sidewall of boss 36.

Head 32 is further provided with a desired number of glue applying orifices 54 which extend through the cylindrical side-wall thereof in communication with internal glue chamber 42. In this regard, it should be noted that any number of orifices 54 can be provided depending only on the number of stripes of glue which need to be deposited on a given web 18. As can readily be understood from a study of FIGS. 45, glue from supply 20 flows under the influence of gravity through tubing 28 and pipe 30 and into glue chamber 42 of head 32. Finally, glue flows out orifices 54 of relatively small diameter during glue applying procedures.

It is to be understood that although the assembly disclosed herein can be pressurized if desired, in preferred forms of the invention, no pressurization thereof is needed. This results from the use of flexible tubing 28, delivery pipe 30', and chamber 42 of dimensions such that glue flows to head 32 in a substantially unrestricted gravity induced manner. Thus, when supply 20 is positioned above overall glue head assembly 24, adequate amounts of glue are continually fed into chamber 42 without the need of system pressurization. Moreover, because orifices 54 are of relatively small diameter, the only resistance to flow of glue throughout the entire system occurs at these points. Hence, glue flowing from wall of head 32 proximal to the orifices 54 is internally milled as at 55 to reduce'the length of the orifices and consequently the restriction imposed upon glue flow.

An externally mounted, movable, annular collar member 56 is axially shiftable on the rearward portion of head 32 in annular groove 46. Collar 56 has a main body 64 and integral, opposed, annular bearing flanges 57 and 58 which are adapted to slidably engage the outer cylindrical surfaces of collar 48 and second annular portion 44 respectively. For this purpose circular sealing rings 60 and 62 are provided to insure a smooth, leak-free, slidable seal between flanges 57 and 58 and the respective bearing surfaces thereunder.

The main body 64 of collar is a radially enlarged, inwardly extending, annular portion circumscribing surface 52 of boss portion 36 and is provided with opposed, axially projecting, integral flanges 57 and 58 which engage the underlying second annular portion 44 and collar 48 respectively. The inner surface of main body 64 is slidable along the length of surface 52 and a fluid tight seal is provided therebetween by means of O-ring 66 seated within an annular recess provided therefor in surface 52. i

A pair of oppositely directed, generally L-shaped penumatic line apertures 68 and 70 having outer radially projecting threaded portions are further provided in main body 64 and are adapted to receive threaded fittings 72 serving to connect separate pneumatic hoses 74 and 76 to collar 56. The apertures 68 and include transverse air delivery passages 78 and 80 respectively which extend to space 46 cooperatively defined by collar 48 and enlarged second annular portion 44 of boss 36. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the L-shaped apertures 68 and 70 have transverse legs which are oppositely directed. Specifically viewing FIGS. 4 and 5, slot 78 opens to communicate aperture 70 with the forward wall of collar 48, while slot 80 communicates aperture 68 with rearmost wall 45 of second annular portion 44.

By virtue of the above-described arrangement, collar 56 may be shifted axially in either a forward or rearward direction by selective application of pneumatic pressure through hose 74 or 76. Thus, if pressurized air is directed through hose 74, movable collar 56 will be shifted forwardly; conversely, if pressurized air is directed through hose 76, movable collar 56 in turn will be shifted in a rearward direction.

In order to selectivelyv control the flow of glue from orifices 54, an externally mounted, relatively thin, apertured sleeve member 81 is disposed about head 32. For this purpose, the forward flange 58 of movable collar 56 is provided with a plurality of upraised ridges 84, and sleeve 81 hascorresponding cut-away slots which are adapted to register with ridges 84 to. thereby interconnect 'movable-collar 56 and sleeve 81. Thus, collar 56 andsleeve 81 are adapted to axially reciprocate in unison in response to selectively directed pneumatic pressure as described above. The slidable connection of sleeve 81 about head 32 is completed by means of parallel, axially extending braces 86 and 88 which are attached to the respective distal ends of metallic sleeve 81 by means of fasteners 90. Sleeve 81 is held in place about cylindrical head 32 by provision of screws 92 which pass through clearance hole in brace 86 and are threadably secured within'the remaining brace 88.

Sleeve 81 also includes an aperture 94 positioned and configured to register with each of the glue applying orifices 54 of head 32 when sleeve 81 is shifted into its forward operative position. Thus, as described previously, when pressurized air is applied through hose 74, movable collar 56 and sleeve 81 are shifted in unison in a forward direction to a point where orifices 54 and apertures 94 align. This operational configuration is depicted in FIG. 5, and as can be appreciated, glue from supply 20 is thereby permitted to flow through orifices 54 onto web 18.

When it is desired to interrupt glue application, pressurized air is first directed through hose 76 which acts to shift movable collar 56 and sleeve 81 rearwardly. This in turn causes a misalignment of apertures 94 and glue applying orifices 54 (See FIGS. 3 and 4) to thereby preclude flow of glue from the latter. Additionally, in this stop position no significant quantity of air is permitted to contact the glue within the glue applying orifices 54, and consequently there is no hardening of glue therein. Hence, when it is desired to resume application of glue to web 18, the externally mounted control assembly is simply shifted to its operative position as described, and glue again begins to flow readily.

Another important feature of the present invention is the manner in which glue is ultimately applied to moving web 18. As indicated previously, prior glue applying assemblies have conventionally employed pressurized nozzles or the like in order to apply glue to moving paper webs. However, by provision of the apparatus described herein', it has been discovered that a novel and unique glue applying method results. Specifically, moving web 18 acts upon the relatively viscous glue within orifices 50 in a manner similar to the phenomenon known as capillary action. That is, web 18 acts to wipe or pull glue from orifices 54 in a continuous, speed-related fashion. As depicted in FIG. 10, the attraction created by moving web 18 causes a continuous, relatively uniform line or stripe of glue 96 to be laid on web l8along the length thereof. Moreover, this action has been found to provide glue delivery proportional to web speed, so that the apparatus of the present invention is capable of automatically varying the rate of glue application to compensate for changing web speeds. Thus, there is no need for complex and expensive equipment which has characterized the glue applying devices of the prior art, because the action of moving web 18 serves to automatically adjust the glue applying capacity of the device.

The nature of head 32 and use of gravity glue feed also serves to facilitate adjustment of the amount of glue deposited at any given web speed. Again referring to FIG. 10, it is seen that aperture 94 of sleeve 81 is positioned slightly ahead of the point of tangency between web 18 and head 32. In this manner a greater quantity of glue is continually applied to web 18 than would occur if aperture 94 were closer to the exact point of tangency. Therefore, it is only necessary to rotate head 32 to various glue applying dispositions in order to increase or decrease the amount of glue continuously applied to moving web 18.

In keeping with the aforementioned properties of the present assembly, it should be noted that a wide variety of glues can be employed in conjunction therewith. The only requirement is that the glue be sufficiently viscous to preclude undue dripping or flow thereof from the orifices 54 and overlying apertures 94. While almost all commercially available glues meet this simple criterion,

the following resin or dextrin based glues produced by the Swift Chemical Company have been found to be particularly advantageous: Nos. 5038, I338, 1331, 1402, and 2802.

It is also possible to employ a number of specific web arrangements for applying glue thereto from the assembly of this invention. Referring to FIGS. 7-9, three additional methods of this type are depicted. For example in FIG. 7, the glue head assembly 24 described in detail above is employed with a moving web 18 in a lightly touching tangential relationship thereto. For added stability, an overhead leaf-spring member 98 is utilized in order to prevent web 18 from moving out of contact from web 32. This serves to insure more uniform glue application during all operational speeds of the paper handling apparatus. In this connection, it should also be noted that a jet of air could be employed in place of leaf-spring 98 with the air being directed to impinge upon web 18 on the side thereof remote from head 32 for the purposes noted.

In yet another method of application, web 18 is wound about a portion of circular head 32 with orifices 54 and associated apertures 94 positioned at a point along the length of contact between web 18 and head 32. This embodiment is detailed in FIG. 9, and as above, it is possible to vary the quantities of glue deposited on web 18 by simply rotating head 32 to effect a desired orientation between glue applying orifices 50 and the web.

Finally, a separate roller (which can either be driven or free to rotate) can be employed to insure that web 18 remains in glue applying disposition to head 32 at all times. This particular embodiment is shown in FIG. 8, and similarly the described wiping or pulling action of the web upon the glue delivered from the glue applying orifices results in uniform, relatively distortion-free application of glue.

It is thus apparent that the present invention provides a simple, effective glue applicator assembly for use in multiple web-fed paper handling devices. Moreover, the assembly of this invention is characterized by excellent flow control and uniform glue disposistion, and is capable of quick and simple start-up and adjustment during operation without the problems encountered in the constructions of the prior art.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. An applicator adapted to be interconnected to a supply of fluid substance for applying a strip of the latter to a moving web, said applicator comprising:

an elongated applicator head adapted to be positioned proximal to said web and having a forward fluid substance applying section adjacent said web and a rearward section presenting a bearing surface,

said forward section including a hollow chamber defined in part by a wall having an orifice therethrough of relatively small diameter for the application of said fluid substance;

slidable means positioned on said bearing surface and axially shiftable therealong; relatively thin, apertured means in covering disposition to said fluid substance applying section and axially shiftable between a first operative position wherein said aperture is registered with said orifice, and a second flow-preventing position where said orifice is covered to preclude fluid flow therefrom;

means coupling said apertured means and slidable means for axial movement thereof in unision, said coupling means precluding significant rotational movement of the apertured means relative to said forward section; and

means for selectively shifting said slidable means, in-

cluding:

first fluid pressure means coupled to said slidable means for axially shifting said apertured means to said first position when fluid pressure is applied thereto; and

second fluid pressure means coupled to said slidable means for axially shifting said apertured means to said second position when fluid pressure is applied thereto.

2. The applicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein an elongated tubular delivery member is mounted on said applicator and in communication with said hollow chamber, said tubular delivery member being adapted for connection to a supply of fluid substance and of dimensions permitting gravity induced fluid flow from said supply to said chamber.

3. The applicator as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tubular member is configured to permit axially rotatable mounting of said applicator on complemental mounting structure adjacent said web.

4. The applicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said apertured means-comprises an apertured sleeve substantially surrounding said forward section.

5. The applicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second fluid pressure actuatable means are pneumatically operated. 

1. An applicator adapted to be interconnected to a supply of fluid substance for applying a strip of the latter to a moving web, said applicator comprising: an elongated applicator head adapted to be positioned proximal to said web and having a forward fluid substance applying section adjacent said web and a rearward section presenting a bearing surface, said forward section including a hollow chamber defined in part by a wall having an orifice therethrough of relatively small diameter for the application of said fluid substance; slidable means positioned on said bearing surface and axially shiftable therealong; relatively thin, apertured means in covering disposition to said fluid substance applying section and axially shiftable between a first operative position wherein said aperture is registered with said orifice, and a second flow-preventing position where said orifice is covered to preclude fluid flow therefrom; means coupling said apertured means and slidable means for axial movement thereof in unision, said coupling means precluding significant rotational movement of the apertured means relative to said forward section; and means for selectively shifting said slidable means, including: first fluid pressure means coupled to said slidable means for axially shifting said apertured means to said first position when fluid pressure is applied thereto; and second fLuid pressure means coupled to said slidable means for axially shifting said apertured means to said second position when fluid pressure is applied thereto.
 2. The applicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein an elongated tubular delivery member is mounted on said applicator and in communication with said hollow chamber, said tubular delivery member being adapted for connection to a supply of fluid substance and of dimensions permitting gravity induced fluid flow from said supply to said chamber.
 3. The applicator as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tubular member is configured to permit axially rotatable mounting of said applicator on complemental mounting structure adjacent said web.
 4. The applicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said apertured means comprises an apertured sleeve substantially surrounding said forward section.
 5. The applicator as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first and second fluid pressure actuatable means are pneumatically operated. 